A first job as a social worker often leads to the public sector, to non-profit welfare organisations or to associations with their own pay rules. Your salary therefore depends on who your employer is and which collective agreement applies. This guide shows the 2026 values for the public collective agreement for social and child-care services (TVöD SuE).
Short answer: Social workers in the public sector are often paid in pay grade S 11b of the TVöD SuE. According to the pay table, step 1 is EUR 3,915.12 gross per month from 1 May 2026. Non-profit employers often apply other rules, which are set out in the contract. Last updated: October 2026.
The key points
- Social workers in the public sector usually work under the TVöD SuE (collective agreement for social and child-care services).
- Pay grade S 11b starts in step 1 at EUR 3,915.12 gross per month, valid from 1 May 2026.
- Relevant prior experience can raise the starting step. The step is stated in the contract.
- Non-profit welfare organisations often apply their own pay rules. Check the contract, not only the job advertisement.
- As an employee you are in statutory health insurance. Assumption: in step 1 your share is EUR 436.53 per month.
Which pay grade applies to social workers?
Grading follows the pay rules of the TVöD SuE and the job criteria. A tariff overview names S 11b for social workers and social pedagogues with a state recognition who hold an academic degree. According to the same overview, S 12 applies to more demanding work. Whether your bachelor degree is enough for the group is best clarified with the personnel office or by reading the pay rules. Ask for the grading in writing.
What are the monthly pay amounts under the TVöD SuE?
| Step | Monthly gross pay (S 11b) | Share health insurance (assumption) | Share long-term care (assumption) | Total (assumption) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3,915.12 EUR | 342.57 EUR | 93.96 EUR | 436.54 EUR |
| 2 | 4,181.19 EUR | 365.85 EUR | 100.35 EUR | 466.20 EUR |
| 3 | 4,368.13 EUR | 382.21 EUR | 104.84 EUR | 487.05 EUR |
| 4 | 4,844.78 EUR | 423.92 EUR | 116.27 EUR | 540.19 EUR |
| 5 | 5,217.14 EUR | 456.50 EUR | 125.21 EUR | 581.71 EUR |
| 6 | 5,440.57 EUR | 476.05 EUR | 130.57 EUR | 606.62 EUR |
Source of the pay table: TVöD SuE pay table valid from 1 May 2026 to 31 March 2027 (City of Ulm, reproducing the collective agreement). The contribution columns are a calculation assuming no children and an age over 23, with an additional contribution of 2.9 percent.
What determines the starting step?
The step depends on relevant prior experience. Without prior experience you start in step 1. According to the tariff overview, step 2 requires at least one year of relevant experience and step 3 at least three years. For new hires with relevant experience, the same source names step 3 as the maximum. The pay rules decide case by case, so document your experience precisely when you apply.
How does health insurance work in the public sector?
As a salaried employee in the public sector you are generally in statutory health insurance as long as your annual salary stays below the insurance threshold of EUR 77,400 (2026, § 6 SGB V, in German). Even at step 6, the S 11b table stays below this figure without special payments: EUR 5,440.57 times 12 is EUR 65,286.84. Contributions are calculated on gross pay up to the contribution assessment ceiling of EUR 5,812.50 per month (2026).
Assumption: step 1 with EUR 3,915.12 gross, no children and older than 23, average additional contribution of 2.9 percent. Your share of health and long-term care insurance:
- Health insurance: 8.75 percent of EUR 3,915.12, that is EUR 342.57
- Long-term care insurance: 2.4 percent (1.8 percent plus the 0.6 percent surcharge) of EUR 3,915.12, that is EUR 93.96
- Together: EUR 436.53 per month
Income tax and pension and unemployment insurance are not included. For a net estimate, use the tax calculator of the Federal Ministry of Finance (bmf-steuerrechner.de).
Non-profit or public sector: what to look for
Many welfare organisations and non-profit providers apply their own pay rules or church regulations. Whether salaries follow the public collective agreement is stated in the contract. Ask specifically which rules apply and compare steps, special payments and working hours, not only the gross figure. Fixed terms and the funding of project posts also affect your security. For an overview of entry pay in the public sector, see public service entry pay: E 13 or A 13?.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a master for S 11b?
The tariff overview names an academic qualification with state recognition as the basis. Whether your degree is enough is decided case by case under the pay rules. A written statement from the employer provides clarity.
Does my salary rise automatically?
Steps rise with periods of experience under the TVöD, and the exact rules are set out in the collective agreement. There are also annual special payments and possible allowances, depending on the contract and the duties.
Does health insurance also apply part time?
Yes, as long as you are employed in a compulsorily insured job. Contributions follow your actual gross pay, so they are lower part time. Compulsory insurance depends on the employment relationship, not on the share of a full-time post.
How do I get from gross to net?
Income tax depends on your tax class and allowances. For an estimate, use the tax calculator of the Federal Ministry of Finance at bmf-steuerrechner.de. For reading your payslip, see understanding your first payslip.
What to do next
- Ask for the collective agreement, pay grade and step in the offer.
- Check whether relevant prior experience is credited and document it with certificates.
- Calculate your share of the contributions with the example above.
- Compare public sector and non-profit employers by pay, special payments and fixed terms.
Related guides
- Health Insurance After Graduation: Job Seeker Visa
- Private Health Insurance for Working Students in Germany
- Public service entry pay: E 13 or A 13?
- Starting salaries 2026 by subject
Sources: TVöD SuE pay table valid 1 May 2026 to 31 March 2027 (City of Ulm); GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on 2026 calculation figures (last updated 1 January 2026); Social Code Book V, § 5 (accessed October 2026).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
